Gunsmoke (TV Series 1955–1975) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in the rough and tumble Dodge City. Creator: Airs Mon. Dec. 19, 1:00 PM on TVLAND ON DISC Etta Stone is a very bitter, older, woman who has Kitty and Matt captured, and thrown into a homemade jail, and now she plans on hanging Matt for the execution of her husband 6 years before. 9.4 Coltrane maybe the fastest gun alive, and all he wants to do is live a quiet life with his beautiful wife, but so many men are out to make a reputation by trying to kill him. 9.2 A gunslinger hired to kill Matt, backs down from his obligation when he gets badly wounded and falls in love with a beautiful Asian woman who is caring for him, and his employers won't stand for it.

9.1 a list of 22 titles created 11 Dec 2011 a list of 41 titles created 26 Aug 2012 a list of 30 titles created 02 Jul 2014 a list of 31 images created 10 months ago a list of 40 titles created 4 months ago Search for " Gunsmoke " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 15 wins & 20 nominations. See more awards » Photos The adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community. Stars: Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive; he is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way. Stars: Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts and Rocky Mountains.

The first treks were led by gruff, ... See full summary » Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton The Wild West adventures of the residents and staff of Barkley Ranch in California's San Joaquin Valley. Stars: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter for hire. Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham Bret and Bart Maverick (and in later seasons, their English cousin, Beau) are well dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game. Poker (5 card draw) is ... See full summary » Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore After the Civil War, nomadic adventurer Cheyenne Bodie roamed the west looking for fights, women and bad guys to beat up. His job changed from episode to episode. Stars: Clint Walker, Clyde Howdy, Chuck Hicks A Civil War veteran with a sawed-off rifle as a holstered weapon makes a living as a bounty hunter in the Wild West of the 1870s.

Stars: Steve McQueen, Wright King, Olan Soule Frontier hero Daniel Boone conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, running into both friendly and hostile Indians, just before and during the Revolutionary War. Stars: Fess Parker, Patricia Blair, Darby Hinton Dressed-up dandy (derby and cane), gambler and lawman roams the West charming women and defending the unjustly accused. His primary weapon was his wit (and cane) rather than his gun. Stars: Gene Barry, Allison Hayes, Allen Jaffe Marshal Earp keeps the law, first in Kansas and later in Arizona, using his over-sized pistols and a variety of sidekicks. Most of the saga is based loosely on fact, with historical badguys... See full summary » Stars: Hugh O'Brian, Jimmy Noel, Ethan Laidlaw The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Col. MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more ... See full summary » Stars: Doug McClure, James Drury, Lee J.

Cobb Edit Storyline Marshal Matt Dillon is in charge of Dodge City, a town in the wild west where people often have no respect for the law. He deals on a daily basis with the problems associated with frontier life: cattle rustling, gunfights, brawls, standover tactics, and land fraud. Such situations call for sound judgement and brave actions: of which Marshal Dillon has plenty. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au> 10 September 1955 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Marshal Dillon See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia It was originally produced for the CBS Television Network by Filmcrafters at the Producers Studio (now the Raleigh Studio). Around 1960, CBS took over production and moved it to KTLA Studios, then owned by Paramount Pictures. Around 1963 production was moved to CBS Studio Center, formerly Republic Studios, where it remained for the rest of the show's run. Starting around 1970, CBS produced it in association with The Arness Company ( James Arness ). Originally syndicated by CBS Films and then by its successor, Viacom, now Paramount Television.

See more » Goofs Matt is called a US Marshal. Kansas became a state in 1861, more than a decade before the series is set. There was only one US district court in Kansas and one marshal assigned to it, plus a number of deputy marshal. All deputies would be based in Hays, the capital, not towns like Dodge. And deputies would enforce federal laws and court orders, and capture federal fugitives. They would not have state or local jurisdiction (like breaking up fights in the Long Branch). At the time of the series Dodge had a town marshal, and a county sheriff with jurisdiction outside the town limits. See more » Quotes [the teaser of the very first episode, "Matt Gets It."] John Wayne : Good evening. My name's Wayne. Some of you may have seen me before. I hope so. I've been kicking around Hollywood a long time. I've made a lot of pictures out here. All kinds. Some of them have been westerns and that's what I'm here to tell you about tonight. A western. A new television show called "Gunsmoke". When I first heard about the show "Gunsmoke", I knew there was only one man to play in it. James Arness.

He's a young fellow, and ... James Arness, Marshal on ‘Gunsmoke,’ Dies at 88 - The New York Times The New York Times Television |James Arness, Marshal on ‘Gunsmoke,’ Dies at 88 Search Continue reading the main story Photo James Arness portrayed Marshal Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" for 20 years after the series debuted in 1955. Credit CBS James Arness , who burnished the legend of America’s epic West as Marshal Matt Dillon, the laconic peacemaker of Dodge City on “Gunsmoke,” one of the longest-running dramatic series in television history, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88. A family spokeswoman, Ginny Fazer, confirmed the death. Mr. Arness was terribly shy and had almost no training as an actor. A wartime leg wound made it painful for him to mount a horse. But he became the best-known tin star of his era, portraying the towering, weathered marshal for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975. He also made some 50 films and television movies, mostly westerns, in a career that stretched across five decades.

To a generation of television viewers, Mr. Arness and “Gunsmoke” embodied a new, more adult vision of the mythic Old West: a quiet, vulnerable lawman facing not stereotyped villains and clichéd situations but a chaotic frontier freighted with moral judgments and occasional failure. He might be too late to stop a killing. He could save a girl from kidnappers, but not from her father’s brutality. Audiences had long been accustomed to western heroes who never were, having been sanitized by the trail songs of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers and the righteous gunplay of the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy . But Marshal Dillon never got the girl, did not love his horse, wore only one gun and fired it reluctantly, usually drawing last but shooting straightest in dusty street duels. Over the years, the marshal was shot 30 times. Continue reading the main story Mr. Arness, a 6-foot-7 giant whose stoic personality was remarkably like his character’s, was ideal for the part. He had been reared in a family of Norwegian descent in Minnesota and became an outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. He came home from World War II a wounded, decorated and aimless veteran.

He worked menial jobs, tried radio and was collecting veterans’ benefits when he drifted to Hollywood. Photo James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, right, with Dennis Weaver as his sidekick, Chester, on “Gunsmoke” in 1956. Credit CBS He developed slowly, appearing in 30 movies before his mentor, John Wayne, rejected the Dillon role and recommended him instead. “Gunsmoke,” which began in 1952 as a radio show with William Conrad, landed on the CBS television network as a half-hour black-and-white drama set in a raw Kansas town in 1873. In the premiere, which established the tone for the series, Marshal Dillon faces a gunslinger who had killed an unarmed man. The outlaw insists on a showdown, and the marshal, always a moral touchstone, must accommodate him. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “He’s a gunman, Doc,” Dillon says to Doc Adams.

“He has got to be eliminated.” The supporting cast was a snug family, stock but multilayered characters who spent much time talking: the beer-drinking philosopher, Doc (Milburn Stone); the careworn Long Branch saloonkeeper, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake), her love unrequited; and the lame sidekick, Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver). Characters and actors came and went in tales that often focused on travelers passing through on their way west. “Gunsmoke” was not an instant success. But from 1957 to 1961, when it became a one-hour series, it was the top-rated show on television, seen every week by 40 million Americans and millions more in Britain, where it was called “Gun Law.” It bred dozens of copycats, including “Have Gun, Will Travel,” “Wagon Train,” “Rawhide,” “The Rifleman” and “Bonanza.” The ratings declined until 1967, when color and a new time slot sent “Gunsmoke” back into the Top 10 until the 1973-74 season.

The show was still in the Top 30 when it was canceled in 1975. In its 20-year run, there had been 635 episodes. Mr. Arness had been in the saddle for all of them, and would ride again through decades of reruns and sequels. He was born James King Aurness in Minneapolis on May 26, 1923, one of two sons of Rolf Aurness, who sold medical supplies, and the former Ruth Duesler. (His parents divorced in the 1940s.) Photo James Arness in 2002. Credit Krista Niles/Associated Press Mr. Arness’s younger brother was the actor Peter Graves, who starred for years on television in “Mission: Impossible” and appeared in scores of movies, including “Airplane!” (1980) . He died in March 2010. James attended public schools and graduated from West High School in Minneapolis in 1942. In his first year at Beloit College in Wisconsin, Mr. Arness was drafted into the wartime Army as an infantryman.

During the invasion of Anzio, Italy, in 1944, his right leg was shattered by machine-gun fire. Hospitalized for nearly a year, he underwent a series of operations but for many years suffered pain, especially when mounting a horse, and walked with a slight limp. He won the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy After the war he returned to Minnesota, took odd jobs and was a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. He began acting at an amateur theater and met the producer Dore Schary, who put him in a few movies in 1947. Unsure of his future, he drifted around Mexico, but returned to Hollywood determined to be an actor called James Arness. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her son by a previous marriage, Craig. The couple had two children, Jenny and Rolf, and were divorced in 1963. In 1978 he married Janet Surtees; they lived in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

She and Rolf Arness survive him, along with a stepson, Jim Surtees. Survivors also include six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Jenny Arness died in 1975, and Craig in 2004. Critics praised Mr. Arness’s performance as an unjustly accused man in “The People Against O’Hara” (1951), and he was memorable if unrecognizable in the title role of the science-fiction thriller “The Thing From Another World,” better known as just “The Thing” (1951). In the next few years he was in dozens of films, including “Big Jim McLain” (1952) and “Hondo” (1953), which both starred John Wayne. Wayne was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars then, and a television role did not seem the right move for him. But Mr. Arness, his protégé, turned out to be a masterly casting choice. Its 20-year tenure made “Gunsmoke” the longest-running scripted prime-time show in American television history, a record that stood until it was broken by “The Simpsons” in 2009.

(“Law & Order” reached the 20-year mark in 2010, but was canceled before it could overtake “Gunsmoke.” No other show currently on the air comes close.) Besides reruns, it spun off books, board games, a trove of merchandise and endless nostalgia. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Arness was nominated for three Emmy Awards in the “Gunsmoke” years and later made dozens of television movies, including “The Alamo” (1987) and “Red River” (1988). He also starred in the mini-series “How the West Was Won” (1977) and the short-lived crime series “McCain’s Law” (1981). From 1987 to 1993 he also made five “Gunsmoke” television-movie sequels. “James Arness: An Autobiography,” written with James E. Wise Jr., was published in 2001. Daniel E. Slotnik contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on June 4, 2011, on Page A19 of the New York edition with the headline: James Arness, ‘Gunsmoke’ Sheriff With a Conscience, Is Dead at 88. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe 'Gunsmoke' star James Arness dies at 88 - USATODAY.com 'Gunsmoke' star James Arness dies at 88 By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY Updated He was, by any measure, one of TV's biggest stars. CBS/AP CBS/AP James Arness played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in 'Gunsmoke' for two decades. At six-foot-seven, James Arness — who died today at 88 — would have been a commanding presence in any medium or most any job. Luckily for him, us, and CBS, the job he found was ideal: Matt Dillon , the stalwart marshal who kept the Dodge City peace on TV's longest-running drama, Gunsmoke. It was a role he would play for twenty years, longer than any other actor on a single primetime series.

( Kelsey Grammer would eventually beat his record, but it took him two shows, Cheers and Frasier, to do so.) Along the way he became a symbol, not just of a western hero, but of what an American hero should be: Strong, compassionate, resolute, resilient, slow to anger but extremely dangerous to cross. Matt was the kind of man who inspired devotion, from viewers, from deputies, and from the beautiful bar-keep — Amanda Blake's Miss Kitty — who clearly would have kept time with Matt had he only asked. Oddly enough, as perfect as the job was for Arness, he almost didn't get it. CBS first offered the role to John Wayne , figuring he'd be a better fit for the TV cameras than the shorter, dumpier William Conrad who originated it on the long-running radio program. But Wayne refused and, instead, recommended Arness, who surprised his mentor by turning it down. Arness had a few good reasons. His movie career was beginning to pick up, having moved from playing The Thing in The Thing to a much more visible staring role in the sci-fi classic Them.

Plus, before Gunsmoke's 1955 debut, the only westerns to crack the Top Twenty were kid stuff like The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. Happily for TV history, Wayne got Arness to change his mind, in part by agreeing to introduce the first episode — and a TV legend was born. Two years later, Gunsmoke began a four-year run as America's top-rated series. And its popularity was so steady and long-lasting, it would rise as high as Number 2 again in 1969. As it broke the mold for the genre, Gunsmoke ushered in an entire TV era: The reign of the Adult Western. At the era's peak, there would be more than 30 westerns on the air at once. Take that, reality TV. No show runs for two decades without change, and Gunsmoke was no exception. Milburn Stone's Doc was a constant, but otherwise, cast-members came and went. Dennis Weaver 's original, limping deputy Chester gave way to Ken Curtis' shaggier Festus. Burt Reynolds spent a few years in Dodge before moving on to stardom elsewhere.

The series changed nights, slots, and even lengths, starting as a half-hour show before expanding to an hour in 1961. Yet always, holding it together, was Arness. Even when he wasn't on screen (and there were many episodes where he was mentioned more than seen), his looming presence was felt. Mess around in Dodge City, and sooner or later, Marshall Dillon would make you sorry you did. An intensely private man, Arness was seldom seen or heard outside of Gunsmoke's dusty confines. Many fans may never even have known he had a star for a brother, as well: Peter Graves . Perhaps because we only saw him as Marshall Dillon, Arness was, for most of us, always Marshall Dillon. Short runs on two other series followed: How the West Was Won in 1978; McClain's Law in 1981. But no other role took, and by the late '80s, he was back to playing Matt in a scattered series of five Gunsmoke movies. And why not? He was a big man, that was his big role — and united, they played a big part in TV history.

He now leaves behind big shoes, and they'll never be filled. For more information about reprints & permissions , visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com . Posted Gunsmoke | TVLAND.com Gunsmoke Schedule Gunsmoke Premiering on CBS in September 1955 and completing its network run September 1975, Gunsmoke is the longest-running dramatic series in the history of TV. Two of its stars, James Arness and Milburn Stone, remained all 20 seasons, with Amanda Blake a close second, departing after 19 years. The series started out as a half-hour show, and expanded to an hour in its seventh season. Prior to Gunsmoke (and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, which premiered the same week), Western shows generally focused on fantasy characters such as the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy, holdovers from movie and radio serials.

Gunsmoke was one of the earliest "adult Westerns," centering around the exploits of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kan. in 1873. His kindly companion was Doc Adams (Milburn Stone), the town physician who spent many hours chugging beers at the Long Branch Saloon, owned and operated by the shapely Kitty Russell. Over the years there were several changes in the supporting cast, most notably the replacement of Matt's loyal deputy, Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), with hillbilly deputy Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis). Gunsmoke started a longtime trend for TV westerns. At one point there were 30 of them on the air at the same time. But Gunsmoke outlasted the others and at the time of its cancelation in 1975, it was the only show of its kind still on the air. Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (TV Movie 1987) - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property.

Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge ( 1987 ) R | Will Mannon, "product of the Devil's loins," is released from a frontier prison and promptly goes in search of the people who put him there some 12 years ago -- Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell. Director: 6 February 2010 3:50 AM, -08:00 | SneakPeek Around The Web a list of 781 titles created 02 Jun 2012 a list of 868 titles created 28 Apr 2013 a list of 123 titles created 12 Sep 2015 a list of 247 titles created 7 months ago a list of 2 titles created 1 month ago Title: Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (TV Movie 1987) 7/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

James Arness rides again as Matt Dillon, the US Marshal he made popular in the 1955-75 TV series. In this movie he goes after a renegade Apache named Wolf (Joe Lara) who has taken his ... See full summary » Director: Charles Correll Retired marshal Dillon goes after a 15 year old boy who is determined to kill the men responsible for the murder of his mother during a stagecoach robbery. Director: Jerry Jameson Retired marshal Matt Dillon tracks Arizona rustlers and lands in the middle of the 1880s Pleasant Valley War. Director: Jerry Jameson Retired marshal Matt Dillon must clear his name after a lying witness makes him wanted: dead or alive. Director: Jerry Jameson Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in the rough and tumble Dodge City. Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake A young gun slinger tries to help a rancher and his daughter, save their land and cattle from an evil, wealthy land owner. Director: Nathan Juran A bounty hunter escorts a killer to town to be hanged, but is allowing the man's outlaw brother to catch up with him, for a showdown over a shocking previous murder.

Director: Budd Boetticher Red River (TV Movie 1988) Western A remake of the 1948 movie of the same name. Arness portrays a rancher at odds with his son. Director: Richard Michaels Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts and Rocky Mountains. The first treks were led by gruff, ... See full summary » Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton Jim McClain was a cop and after being injured and deemed unfit for duty he was retired and for the past fifteen years was working on a fishing boat. One day he and his partner sell their ... See full summary » Stars: James Arness, Marshall Colt, George DiCenzo Edit Storyline Will Mannon, "product of the Devil's loins," is released from a frontier prison and promptly goes in search of the people who put him there some 12 years ago -- Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell. In a Lawless Land Ruled by the Gun, He's the Law.

Genres: Rated R for some violence | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 26 September 1987 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Auf Leben und Tod See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The revolver used in the escape of the convict does not have a firing pin attached to the hammer. The floating firing pins were not used until the 20th century. See more » Quotes Logan : Git! [to Dillon, who is carrying a bale of furs] Logan : Them papooses - I'd keep 'em out if I was you. If it ain't nailed down, they'll steal it. Matt Dillon : They live here. Logan : Well, I guess a squaw is better than no woman a'tall, huh? Matt Dillon : You were given 15 years in territorial prison, Logan. What are you doin' out? Logan : Lookin' for you. Been a long look, Dillon, but I promised myself I'd pay you back. Here I am. Matt Dillon : Mister, you aren't the first gunny come lookin' for me. There's two more ...

[...] (United States) – See all my reviews This was far better than I was expecting; a solid reunion movie although only a handful of cast members returned. In a sense, this is kind of a "Wrath of Khan" for "Gunsmoke." Returning foe Mannon (expertly played by Steve Forrest) heads into Dodge to wreak vengeance on Matt and Kitty. There are quite a few flashback scenes, but they further the plot. Although James Arness looks a little odd at times (why did they color his hair??), he's still the same Matt Dillon we last saw in the mid 70s. The real scene stealer is Forrest with his blue-eyed glare and gruesome demeanor. Earl Holliman also gives a great performance as Jake Flagg, loyal friend to Matt (although it's never explained why he's in prison). Even the most casual "Gunsmoke" fan will be be impressed. 6 of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes Television | James Arness dies at 88; TV's Marshal Dillon on landmark 'Gunsmoke' series | Seattle Times Newspaper Print James Arness dies at 88; TV's Marshal Dillon on landmark 'Gunsmoke' series James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV Western series "Gunsmoke," died Friday. He was 88. James Arness' 1947 screen debut was in "The Farmer's Daughter." Related Top comments Hide / Show comments God Speed Marshal Dillon!! Watched many shows when growing up and loved all... (June 4, 2011, by wtausa) Read more James Arness was not only a hero on TV, but in real life as well. He really was a... (June 4, 2011, by George Vreeland Hill) Read more LOS ANGELES — James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV Western series "Gunsmoke," died Friday. He was 88. Mr.

Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, family spokeswoman Ginny Fazer said. "Gunsmoke" debuted on CBS on Sept. 10, 1955, and, with the start of "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" on ABC four days earlier, a new era in television horse operas was launched: the adult Western. But whereas "Wyatt Earp," starring Hugh O'Brian, ended its run in 1961, "Gunsmoke" ran until 1975, far outdistancing its many competitors and becoming one of the longest-running prime-time series in network TV history. In the process, Mr. Arness became one of television's most enduring stars, returning as Dillon in a handful of "Gunsmoke" TV movies in the late '80s and early '90s. At 6-foot-7, Mr. Arness was a bigger-than-life actor who filled the boots of the mythic Dodge City lawman in the series, which earned praise for breaking TV Western-genre conventions with its strong dramatic stories and psychologically complex characters. "Matt," Mr.

Arness once said, "is very human and has all the failings and drives common to anyone who is trying to do a difficult job the best he knows how." "Gunsmoke" had been a groundbreaking hit radio show, with William Conrad providing the authoritative voice of Dillon, for three years when CBS began looking for an actor to star in the TV version. At the time, Mr. Arness, a Minnesota native and World War II Army combat veteran, had amassed a string of film credits, including playing the alien monster in the 1951 science-fiction classic, "The Thing From Another World." He also co-starred in the 1954 sci-fi thriller, "Them!" Then under contract to John Wayne's production company, Mr. Arness also had appeared in four pictures starring Wayne: "Big Jim McLain," "Island in the Sky," "Hondo" and "The Sea Chase." Fearful that starring in a television series would damage his fledgling movie career, Mr. Arness only reluctantly agreed to test for the part of Dillon. When CBS offered him the part, he hesitated, but Wayne urged him to take the role. Mr.

Arness became a welcome visitor in the homes of millions of viewers — as did the show's supporting cast members: Dennis Weaver as Dillon's stiff-legged deputy, Chester Goode; his replacement, Ken Curtis, as Deputy Festus Haggen; Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell, the proprietress of the Long Branch Saloon; and Milburn Stone as the weathered and wise Doc Adams. Of Norwegian descent, Mr. Arness was born James Aurness in Minneapolis on May 26, 1923. His brother, future actor Peter Graves, was born three years later. After an honorable discharge from the Army, Mr. Arness used the GI Bill to join the acting program where he was discovered by an agent. That led to his being introduced to producer Dore Schary. The result: His 1947 screen debut playing a small part as one of Loretta Young's three Scandinavian brothers in "The Farmer's Daughter." Small roles followed. On the "Gunsmoke" set, Mr. Arness was known for his sense of humor. He enjoyed practical jokes. Off the set, he was known to avoid the Hollywood scene, preferring the company of stagehands and fellow pilots.

A surfer since he arrived in California, he learned to fly in the late '60s so he could easily get to remote surf breaks in Baja. Mr. Arness, who also skied and sailed, flew his own plane to "Gunsmoke" locations; his buzzing of the sets became legendary. Despite his desire for privacy, a rocky domestic life landed him in the news more than once. He met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse. They wed in 1948 and had two children, Jenny and Rolf. Chapman's son from her first marriage, Craig, was adopted by Mr. Arness. The marriage foundered and in 1963 Mr. Arness sought a divorce and custody of the three children, which he was granted. The emotionally troubled Virginia Arness attempted suicide twice, in 1959 and in 1960. In 1975, Jenny Arness died of an apparently deliberate drug overdose. Two years later, an overdose police deemed accidental killed her mother. Mr. Arness is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren.

His brother, actor Peter Graves, died in March 2010. Craig Aurness, a photographer, died in 2004. Material from The Associated Press is included in this report. Share: Gunsmoke | TVLAND.com Gunsmoke Schedule Gunsmoke Premiering on CBS in September 1955 and completing its network run September 1975, Gunsmoke is the longest-running dramatic series in the history of TV. Two of its stars, James Arness and Milburn Stone, remained all 20 seasons, with Amanda Blake a close second, departing after 19 years. The series started out as a half-hour show, and expanded to an hour in its seventh season. Prior to Gunsmoke (and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, which premiered the same week), Western shows generally focused on fantasy characters such as the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy, holdovers from movie and radio serials. Gunsmoke was one of the earliest "adult Westerns," centering around the exploits of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kan. in 1873.

His kindly companion was Doc Adams (Milburn Stone), the town physician who spent many hours chugging beers at the Long Branch Saloon, owned and operated by the shapely Kitty Russell. Over the years there were several changes in the supporting cast, most notably the replacement of Matt's loyal deputy, Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), with hillbilly deputy Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis). Gunsmoke started a longtime trend for TV westerns. At one point there were 30 of them on the air at the same time. But Gunsmoke outlasted the others and at the time of its cancelation in 1975, it was the only show of its kind still on the air. 'Gunsmoke' Legend James Arness Dies at 88 | Hollywood Reporter 'Gunsmoke' Legend James Arness Dies at 88 10:02 AM PDT 6/3/2011 by Mike Barnes COMMENTS Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The 6-foot-7 actor, who also starred in the 1950s sci-fi classics "Them!" and "The Thing From Another World," thanks fans for their support with a posthumous letter on his website.

James Arness, the tall man who towered over TV screens for 20 seasons as the iconic Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS’ Gunsmoke, has died. He was 88. The 6-foot-7 actor, who also starred in the 1950s sci-fi classics Them! and The Thing From Another World, passed away of natural causes Friday in his home in Brentwood, according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. His death comes 14 months after his brother, Mission: Impossible actor Peter Graves, died of a heart attack at age 83. Arness’ official website posted a letter from the actor on Friday that he wrote with the intention that it be posted posthumously. “I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends,” he said. “I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of.

I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.” As the stoic Marshal Dillon, Arness kept the peace in rough and tumble Dodge City, Kan., on Gunsmoke, which aired on CBS from September 1955 to March 1975 for a total of 635 episodes. It set a record for the longest-running, live-action primetime series by seasons, since tied by NBC’s Law & Order. Arness’ 20-year primetime stint is another record, since tied by Kelsey Grammer’s two decades years as the character Frasier Crane on two shows, Cheers and then Frasier. Said a statement from CBS on Friday, “Our network headquarters at CBS Studio Center in Studio City looks out at Stage 3, which was home to Gunsmoke’s “Dodge City.” All of us here today tip our hat in that direction for everything Mr. Arness contributed to Gunsmoke, to CBS and to the medium we all love.” Arness was born James King Aurness in Minneapolis on May 26, 1923. He served in the army during World War II, was wounded in his right leg and received the Purple Heart.

On the advice of Graves, Arness applied for and earned a job as an announcer for a radio station in the Twin Cities, then moved to Los Angeles and landed a role as Loretta Young’s brother in the 1947 film The Farmer's Daughter. After starring in the title role as a thawed-out alien bent in eating humans in The Thing, he was spotted by John Wayne, who signed him to a contract with his production company, Batjac Prods. The actors worked together on such films as Big Jim McLain (1952), Island in the Sky (1953), Hondo (1953) and The Sea Chase (1955). Wayne recommended Arness for the role of Marshal Dillon on Gunsmoke, which was coming to TV after beginning as a radio program in 1955. (The show ran on radio until 1961, with the rotund William Conrad voicing the lawman.) “Go ahead and take it, Jim,” Wayne urged him. “You’re too big for pictures. Guys like Gregory Peck and I don’t want a big lug like you towering over us.

Make your mark in television.” Gunsmoke, created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston, was TV’s No. 1 ranked show from 1957-61. The ratings declined when CBS expanded the show to an hour, and in 1967, the network planned to cancel the series. However, widespread viewer reaction prevented its demise. Instead, CBS axed Gilligan’s Island and moved Gunsmoke to Mondays, where the show regained its ratings form. But in 1975, still ranked among the top 30 shows, Gunsmoke was canceled and replaced by Rhoda and Phyllis, a pair of spinoffs from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The cast was stunned by the cancellation. “We didn’t do a final, wrap-up show,” Arness, who was nominated for three Emmys for Gunsmoke, told the Associated Press. “We finished the 20th year, we all expected to go on for another season, or two or three. The (network) never told anybody they were thinking of canceling.” Arness made five Gunsmoke telefilms from 1987 to 1994.

The actor also starred as Zeb Macahan, who leads his family across the American West, in the popular miniseries ’70s How the West Was Won, which was based on the 1962 MGM film (Arness played the James Stewart character). Arness’ final TV series, the NBC police drama McClain’s Law, aired from 1981-82. Survivors include his wife Janet, sons Rolf and Jimmy and six grandchildren. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to United Cerebral Palsy.

Question: Who starred as Matt Dillon in the TV programme 'Gunsmoke'?
Answer: James Arness